New Harlem Shake Dance Deposes Gangnam Style

The clips are about 30 seconds long and usually start with one person gently bopping alone until the beat drops and them everyone goes crazy.

In 2012 Gangnam Style was the viral dance sweeping the internet, but it seems that a new craze is set to take Psy's crown.

The Harlem Shake, a new meme paying homage to phenomenon which has been around since the 1980s, has managed to become an internet hit without any specific choreography.

The idea is simple: a 30-second video set to the tune Harlem Shake by New York-based DJ Baauer.

For the first 15 seconds of each video, one person typically dances while everyone else in the room remains still. Then, once the baseline drops, everyone else goes crazy.

From fire-fighters to the Norway Army, every video posted online seems to have its own interpretation with participants adding their own dance moves which include crotch thrusts, arms flapping and handstands.

While some performers wear facemasks or helmets, come can been seen in fancy dress and even their underwear.

"The Harlem Shake is a style of dance that involves pivoting the shoulder out while popping the other shoulder out at the same time," explains Knowyourmeme.com

Although the creators of the trend are difficult to pinpoint, it is believed video blogger called Filthy Frank is responsible.

He posted DO THE HARLEM SHAKE online on 30 January which opens with four people dressed in latex suits dancing to Baauer's Harlem Shake. The video already had over 2 million views on YouTube.